Most people that view or post on this site love high school football. We like to put together rankings, dicuss rankings, debate who we think will win the big matchups, discuss who we think deserves the MVP award, etc.

While I think we all would agree that all of that is fun (or else we wouldnt be here), I think we all would agree that this isnt what makes high school football special. Who wins the games on Friday night, who is ranked in the top 10, and who deserves an MVP award really arent that important in the grand scheme of things.

Whats most important?

The life long relationships and friendships that are forged...

The MANY lessons the game teaches that translate to life...

Mothers and fathers watching with pride as their son takes the field...

Pride that the game brings to communities...

Coaches and players giving blood, sweat, and tears into a common cause...

I would add also the mothers and fathers watching with pride as their daughters dance the halftime show, or play in the band, or cheerlead on the sidelines.

In small communities, football friday night is an EVENT, and usually the only show in town. It's where we can sit with friends and watch our community kids entertain and enthrall us. Where our little kids are often the halftime and postgame show, tossing nerf footballs and running the field with dreams of wearing the pads and playing someday. Where for a couple of hours our busy lives are put on pause while we enjoy a game watching the future of our community, of our world, learning how to work together, sweat together, and play together... watching boys learn how to become men... good men you can count on.

Maybe its just my perception, but the "business" end of sports seems to be trickling further and further down the chain. High School football at the upper levels is almost treated like a business now. I can see it start to peak its ugly head into the small school levels as well.

Coaches are judged on wins and losses, not on their overall body of work and not by what is most important.

As a coach, all I ever wanted from my kids is to know that they gave it their all every practice and every game. I wanted them to reach their potential on the field, in the classroom, and in life. I knew if they did this, then it wouldnt necessarily translate to wins every game, but we could all be proud of what was accomplished on Friday night. Win or lose.

Hard work, discipline, team work, integrity, loyalty, respect. These are traits that I hope every kid learns when he joins a football team. These are things that will help him in life.

Winning state championships is great. But I will be far more pround to know my kids became good fathers, husbands, and productive members of society long after their HS days are over.

I agree with you gentlemen wholeheartedly. I look back now on my years of high school football as the most developmental years of my young life, in terms of character. Although I am a recent graduate, I have had a decent amount of time to reflect on why I love the game. In the past, especially last year, I would find myself on this site daily looking at where we were ranked, which players were getting love, and to see which team was picked to beat us that upcoming Friday. It was all great fun, really; and, along with revisiting my squad on Friday nights, it still brings me back to those special moments. All I had in mind back then were wins, but now I see why I loved the sport. It's the people you meet and how they shape you that makes it all worth while. I'd do anything to suit up on any given autumn night and have fun with the guys.Cody Wahlers

Most people that view or post on this site love high school football. We like to put together rankings, dicuss rankings, debate who we think will win the big matchups, discuss who we think deserves the MVP award, etc.

While I think we all would agree that all of that is fun (or else we wouldnt be here), I think we all would agree that this isnt what makes high school football special. Who wins the games on Friday night, who is ranked in the top 10, and who deserves an MVP award really arent that important in the grand scheme of things.

Whats most important?

The life long relationships and friendships that are forged...

The MANY lessons the game teaches that translate to life...

Mothers and fathers watching with pride as their son takes the field...

Pride that the game brings to communities...

Coaches and players giving blood, sweat, and tears into a common cause...